Work Drugs

Work Drugs is an American synth pop duo from Philadelphia, founded by Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana.[1] It currently consists of Crystal (vocals and guitar), alongside Louisiana (vocals and keys), Jonas Ohh (drums), Mr. Kansas City (bass), and Katie Nicks (vocals and percussion). It band has had LPs released via boutique label Bobby Cahn Records and toured on the festival circuit in the United States, including SXSW and CMJ, as well as national support slots for the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Umphrey's McGee, Maps and Atlases, Battles, Peter, Bjorn & John, Sun Airway, Memoryhouse, Parts and Labor, J.Viewz, and more.

Work Drugs
OriginPhiladelphia, United States
GenresDream pop, new wave, synthpop, chillwave, electronic
Years active2010–present
LabelsBobby Cahn Records / State Capital Records
MembersThomas Crystal
Benjamin Louisiana
Websiteworkdrugs.wordpress.com

History

Work Drugs is a Philadelphia based recording project started by Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana on the banks of the Delaware River.[2]

Self-described as a band that "makes music specifically for boating, sexting, dancing, yachting, and living" or "Philadelphia's premier Bat Mitzvah and Quinceanera party band", Work Drugs' name was given by their friend Eduardo S. as they were sailing the Baja of Mexico.[3][2] Band members Tom and Ben bonded together in sailing school over music, which is when they started composing songs for their first album. Their music has been compared with that of Steely Dan by the Guardian website.[4]

Their earliest efforts arrived sporadically in the form of singles ("Third Wave", "Dog Daze" and "Rad Racer"). On June 27, 2011 the duo released their first album Summer Blood, which consisted of their first few singles and three acoustic recordings. Later that year they released their sophomore album Aurora Lies. The album, released on November 7, 2011, was the band's first release to bring a collection of entirely previously unreleased tracks. On July 10, 2012, Work Drugs resurfaced with their third album, Absolute Bearing.[5]

In August 2011, the song "Rad Racer" was featured in the Urban Outfitters commercial for "Favorite Fall Jeans of 2011".[6] In his 2011 album, Still Sound, Xxyyxx included a remixed version of "Rad Racer".

Work Drugs have played live shows across North America in cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. In April 2011, the group supported Northern Ireland-based indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club and Chicago indie rock band Maps & Atlases on a tour of the West Coast of the United States.[7]

In late 2011, Work Drugs supported Peter, Bjorn & John and Memoryhouse on their east coast tour through Philadelphia.

In February 2012, Work Drugs supported Umphrey's McGee on their east coast run through Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Discography

Studio albums
Year Details
2011 Summer Blood
  • Released: 27 June 2011
  • Label: Self-released
2011 Aurora Lies
  • Released: 7 November 2011
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2011 Cayman Islands Sessions
  • Released: 15 December 2011
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2012 Absolute Bearing
  • Released: 10 July 2012
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2012 Delta
  • Released: 5 December 2012
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2013 Mavericks
  • Released: 18 June 2013
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2014 Insurgents[8]
  • Released: 4 March 2014
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2014 Runaways
  • Released: 7 October 2014
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2014 Cayman Islands Sessions,Vol.II
  • Released: 2 décembre 2014
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2015 Louisa
  • Released: 7 August 2015
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2016 Method Acting
  • Released: 19 August 2016
2017 Flaunt The Imperfection
  • Released: 11 August 2017
2018 Holding on to Forever
  • Released: 17 September 2018
2019 Fantasy File
  • Released: 30 August 2019
2020 ”A Matter of Degrees”
  • Released: 18 September 2020
2021 ”Pride and Competition”
  • Released: 22 October 2021
2022 ”Some You Leave Out”
  • Released 18 November 2022
2023 ”Dreams Rules Desire”
  • Released 22 September 2023

Extended plays
Year Details
2013 Amore EP
  • Released: 14 February 2013
  • Label: Bobby Cahn Records
2018 Mixed Drinks EP
  • Released: 5 March 2018
2018 Infinity Eyes EP
  • Released: 27 March 2018
2018 Pacific Heart EP
  • Released: 27 April 2018
2018 After Midnight EP
  • Released: 20 June 2018
2018 Sunset Mornings EP
  • Released: 8 August 2018

Remixes

Singles

As a celebration of their first anniversary, Work Drugs released a collaborative single with Philly artist Dylan Sieh aka Tours called Dirty Dreams on 7 December 2011.

No.TitleLength
1."Dirty Dreams"04:03

The track can be streamed here.

Track List: Summer Blood
No.TitleLength
1."Curious Serge"03:16
2."Rad Racer"03:42
3."Golden Sombrero"03:14
4."Sunset Junction"03:18
5."Third Wave"03:39
6."Dog Daze"03:39
7."Summer Blood"03:50
8."Third Wave (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:24
9."Rad Racer (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:36
10."Sunset Junction (Cayman Islands Sessions)"02:48

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Aurora Lies
No.TitleLength
1."Flying Zambo"03:49
2."Blue Steel"03:39
3."Swimmer Girl"03:15
4."Patty (Smile)"03:43
5."Daddy Bear"03:43
6."Ice Wharf"03:14
7."Aurora Lies"03:13
8."Catalina Wine Mixer"03:14
9."Physical Acts"03:18

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Cayman Islands Sessions
No.TitleLength
1."Third Wave (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:23
2."Curious Serge (Cayman Islands Sessions)"02:53
3."Rad Racer (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:36
4."Ice Wharf (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:58
5."Sunset Junction (Cayman Islands Sessions)"02:48
6."Physical Acts (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:40
7."Dog Daze (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:27
8."Prime Meridian (Cayman Islands Sessions)"03:11

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Absolute Bearing
No.TitleLength
1."Perfect Storm"03:48
2."License To Drive"03:38
3."Pluto"04:04
4."Boogie Lights"04:43
5."Absolute Bearing"02:57
6."Council Bluffs"04:34
7."Coral Gables"03:54
8."Lisbon Teeth"03:19
9."The Art of Progress"04:41
10."Tourist Heart"05:35

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Delta
No.TitleLength
1."Third Wave"03:40
2."Rad Racer"03:43
3."Pluto"04:06
4."Ice Wharf"03:16
5."Blue Steel"03:41
6."Cursive Ground"03:34
7."Dirty Dreams"04:06
8."License to Drive"03:40
9."Art of Progress"04:41
10."Boogie Lights"04:46
11."Delta"03:56

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Mavericks
No.TitleLength
1."Young Lungs"04:00
2."West Coast Slide"04:04
3."Sunset on High Street"03:50
4."A Measure of Life"03:04
5."Last Flight"04:06
6."Payola (Number Games)"03:49
7."For James"03:15
8."Trifecta"03:54
9."Tigerbeats"04:07
10."Mavericks"05:11

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Insurgents
No.TitleLength
1."Insurgents"03:51
2."Time"03:20
3."Heaven or Farewell"03:00
4."Half Love"03:57
5."The Good in Goodbye"03:00
6."Chemical Burns"03:52
7."Modern Living"03:22
8."Jackie Kennedy"03:17
9."Digital Girl"03:31
10."Zeros and Ones"03:58

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Track List: Runaways
No.TitleLength
1."Runaways"03:26
2."Free To Roam"03:35
3."Double Life"03:10
4."Lost Weekend"03:47
5."The Moment"03:37
6."Heatwave"03:36
7."Predictable Miracles"03:56
8."Fragile Creatures"03:21
9."Saved By The Bell"03:33
10."Man Of War"03:42
11."Temporary Life Lines"02:58
12."Show And Tell"02:28

All tracks can be streamed from here.

Music videos
Year Title Director(s)
"Pluto" Thomas Crystal
"Swimmer Girl" Cai California
"Rad Racer" Thomas Crystal

References
  1. Lester, Paul (14 November 2011). "Guardian Band of the Day: Work Drugs". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  2. "Work Drugs | Fashion Magazine | News. Fashion. Beauty. Music. | oystermag.com". OYSTER. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  3. G, David (2010-12-15). "Talknarc: Interview with Philly's Work Drugs". Noise Narcs: A Philadelphia-Based Music Blog. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  4. Lester, Paul (14 November 2011). "Work Drugs (No 1,148)". The Guardian. London.
  5. "Work Drugs: Absolute Bearing". Inyourspeakers Media. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  6. Urban, Joe. "Urban Outfitters' Favorite Fall Jeans of 2011". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
  7. Winnie, Cooper. "Work Drugs". Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  8. "New Work Drugs Album 2014". Indie Shuffle. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
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